Lactoferrin is a type of protein found in human milk, buffalo's milk, and cow's milk. Colostrum (the liquid produced after a baby is born) contains high amounts of lactoferrin. It can be found in the liquids of the eye, nose, respiratory tract, and intestine, as well as in various other parts. Lactoferrin is used clinically to treat conditions such as ulcers in the stomach and intestine, viral diarrhea, and hepatitis C, which is expected to further demonstrate the overall growth of the demand for bovine lactoferrin.
Bovine lactoferrin may also be beneficial as an antioxidant in defense against viral and bacterial infections, and to enhance the immune response, prevent tissue damage related to aging, promote healthy amounts of bacteria in the intestine, protect against cancer, and regulate the body's metabolism of iron.
Lactoferrin may also play a role in the regulation of bone marrow function (myelopoiesis) and it's proposed that lactoferrin improves the immune system. These potential uses of lactoferrin are likely to support growth in the global bovine lactoferrin market.
Bovine lactoferrin derived from cow milk is the primary lactoferrin used in human medicines and the United States Food and Drug Administration has classified it as a Generally Recognized As Safe (GRAS) food additive. The nutraceutical protein has a variety of protective actions beyond just anti-inflammatory and anti-anemic activity, including immunomodulatory, antimicrobial, anticancer, and antioxidant.
Together these actions emphasize the importance of lactoferrin, as it is a good nutraceutical product for economic production and has post-ingestion tolerance, which contributes to its growing industry status. Lactoferrin is proposed to have substantial prophylactic and therapeutic implications, which is likely to sustain the growth of the global market for bovine lactoferrin.
The growing use of bovine lactoferrin in the pharmaceutical sector is a crucial driver to the bovine lactoferrin market growth. Bovine lactoferrin, an iron-binding cow milk protein, has been demonstrated to have numerous properties including reports of antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, antiviral, and immune-modulating properties. Given these properties, bovine lactoferrin has been a valuable ingredient in a variety of pharmaceutical applications.
Bovine lactoferrin is primarily used in the pharmaceutical space by way of its incorporation into pre-existing medicinal agents. For example, bovine lactoferrin can be included in the formulation of an antibiotic to facilitate delivery or absorption. This is especially valuable in the occurrence of infections that are notoriously hard to treat with antibiotics (i.e., antimicrobial resistance or inadequate absorption).
In addition, bovine lactoferrin is being widely investigated for its applications in various disease treatments. Its anti-inflammatory effects may be beneficial in treating gastrointestinal issues and inflammatory bowel disease.
Researchers have also developed lactoferrin-loaded nanoparticles for targeting specific tissues and organs, thereby improving drug delivery for neurodegenerative diseases. The expansion of lactoferrin's pharmaceutical applications will increase the market size, as well as create an opportunity for new therapeutic options.
The pharmaceutical industry's enthusiasm for bovine lactoferrin is also reflected in its use for wound healing and oral health. Lactoferrin’s exposure is reported to encourage tissue repair and richness of the microbial components in the area, which makes it a good candidate as an ingredient of topical health formulations that would enhance or even expedite wounds’ recovery. This is also true for products for oral care, thereby encouraging additional ways to encourage microbial management to limit infections and improve hygiene.
The growing use of lactoferrin in infant formula is a major contributor to the growth of the overall bovine lactoferrin market. This momentum is driven in part by lactoferrin’s properties to boost immune system function, which are vital reasons to support infant health. Lactoferrin is a glycoprotein that is found in high amounts in human breast milk, where it serves to manage bacterial infection, promote gut immune function, and regulate gut maturation and development.
Morinaga Milk Industry Co., Ltd. has taken advantage of the increase in consumer demand for health supporting nutrition by incorporating lactoferrin into their infant formula products. It is expected that as more parents learn about the benefits of lactoferrin, the demand for lactoferrin-infused infant formula will increase, expanding the bovine lactoferrin market in the global space.
In addition, the global lactoferrin market is supported by the broader trend of increased health awareness and demand for more natural health products. The COVID-19 pandemic has contributed to greater health awareness, as consumers have become more interested in dietary supplements and health-promoting ingredients like lactoferrin to enhance their immune systems.
The spray-dried market segment is expected to experience a noticeable growth at a higher CAGR during the forecast period. The growth is attributed to unique benefits such as flexible, scalable, and controllable particle engineering approaches. Spray drying is also suitable for bulk applications. An article published by Elsevier B.V. in April 2022 reports that the antioxidant activity of freeze-dried bovine lactoferrin is roughly less than 6% as effective as spray-dried and liquid lactoferrin.
In 2024, North America held the highest share of the market. The region is expected to provide considerable growth potential due to the increase in domestic players that are oriented toward increase in production capacity as well as increased consumption of dietary supplements among the U.S. population.
According to an article published in 2022 by the Council for Responsible Nutrition, nearly 84% of Americans consumed dietary supplements. Additionally, dietary supplement usage was higher among women, older adults, and those with higher education levels and/or household income.
Moreover, in Asia-Pacific, the regional dominance is attributed to the growing interest among the general population of this region for infant formula and dietary supplements. This is increasing the demand for lactoferrin to be incorporated into infant formula and other fortified food products for additional nutrition during the timeframe of the study. Another important factor driving the demand for infant formula in this region is the decline in breastfeeding rates.
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Bovine Lactoferrin Market
